Nae doubt, the best and wisest may err--Once, twice, and thrice have I backslidden, man, and dune three things this night--my father wadna hae believed his een if he could hae looked up and seen me do them." He was by this time arrived at the door of his own dwelling.

He paused, however, on the threshold, and went on in a solemn tone of deep contrition,--"Firstly, I hae thought my ain thoughts on the Sabbath--secondly, I hae gi'en security for an Englishman--and, in the third and last place, well-a-day! I hae let an ill-doer escape from the place of imprisonment--But there's balm in Gilead, Mr.Osbaldistone-- Mattie, I can let mysell in--see Mr.Osbaldistone to Luckie Flyter's, at the corner o' the wynd .-- Mr.Osbaldistone"-- in a whisper--"ye'll offer nae incivility to Mattie--she's an honest man's daughter, and a near cousin o' the Laird o' Limmerfield's.".